title: Distinct roles of DKK1 and DKK2 in tumor angiogenesis.
abstract: Tumor angiogenesis is essential for tumor invasive growth and metastasis, and generates abnormal vascular structures unlike developmental neovessel formation. To reduce tumor vascular abnormalities such as leakage and perivascular cell coverage deficiency that limit cancer therapy effectiveness, novel therapeutic approaches focus on vessel normalization. We have previously shown that Dickkopf-1 (DKK1), a Wnt antagonist, inhibits and its homolog DKK2 enhances, angiogenesis in normal tissues. In the present study, we investigated the effects of DKK1 and DKK2 on tumor growth and angiogenesis. Treatment of B16F10 melanoma-bearing mice with adenovirus expressing DKK1 significantly reduced tumor growth but DKK2 increased growth compared with controls. Similar pattern of tumor growth was observed in endothelial-specific DKK1 and DKK2 transgenic mice. Interestingly, tumor vascular density and perfusion were significantly decreased by DKK1 but increased by DKK2. Moreover, coverage of blood vessels by pericytes was reduced by DKK1, while DKK2 increased it. We further observed that DKK1 diminished retinal vessel density and increased avascular area in an in vivo murine model of oxygen-induced retinopathy, whereas DKK2 showed opposite results. These findings demonstrate that DKK1 and DKK2 have differential roles in normalization and functionality of tumor blood vessels, in addition to angiogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, 120-752, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hongryeol
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyei Yoon
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Hyun-Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Dong Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Chae-Ok
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Jeong-Ki
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Young-Myoung
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young-Guen
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae; D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008545:Melanoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
chemical_list: C501127:Dkk1 protein, mouse; C405060:Dkk2 protein, mouse; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins